ECOA names conservation fund benefactors
Swiss organisation the European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA) has named the benefactors chosen by the public to receive funding from the association this year.
An exercise to encourage outdoor enthusiasts to choose which projects they considered most deserving of financial help attracted 52,482 votes.
This year’s winners are: Armenian Leopards, Trossachs Gateway in Scotland & Bla Bheinn Path Repair on Scotland’s Isle of Skye.
The Trossachs National Park is home to iconic Scottish wildlife including golden eagles, black grouse and red squirrels. The landscape was once largely covered by native forest stretching up into the surrounding mountains but in recent years much has been felled, reducing its biodiversity. The aims of the project include restoring degraded habitats by planting thousands of trees and allowing native woodland to regenerate, and completing The Great Trossachs Path.
Bla Bheinn (pronounced Blaven) is one of Britain’s most magnificent mountains. The view from its summit and relatively simple access mean high footfall, which, combined with rainfall, has led to serious erosion on sections of the path. The John Muir Trust plans to repair the 3.8km path, working with local contractors and volunteers.
The EOCA is an initiative from the European outdoor industry with the objective of protecting wild areas, with 100% of fees supporting projects.
